ASHEVILLE, N.C. – In the first game of a three game Big South Conference series this weekend the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers earned a 9-7 victory over homestanding UNC Asheville on Friday evening at Greenwood Field.

With the victory the Chants improve to 13-18 overall and 5-5 in Big South play while the Bulldogs fall to 9-21 on the season with a 3-7 mark in conference play.

Asheville posted seven runs on 11 hits including a grand slam in the bottom of the first by designated hitter Pete Guy, who went 3-for-4 at the plate with four runs batted in. Centerfielder Tanner Bush, catcher Lucas Owens and rightfielder Phillip Treadway each collected two hits for the Blue & White, while Treadway and third baseman Tommy Houmard each scored two runs.

Second baseman Connor Owings drove in three RBI for Coastal on a double in the fourth which tied the game at seven runs apiece. Shortstop Michael Paez went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and one RBI.

Starter Ethan Steible was credited with the loss for the Bulldogs to fall to 0-3 on the season. Steible gave up eight runs (five earned) on seven hits in five innings.

Coastal’s starter Tyler Herb picked up the victory tossing 6.2 innings. Herb allowed seven runs (five earned) on nine hits with five walks and six strikeouts. Andrew Beckwith earned his second save of the season in relief, pitching 1.2 shutout innings.

Coastal posted a run in the top of the first when Zack Remillard grounded out to plate Steven Whitaker from third to take a 1-0 lead. The Bulldogs loaded the bases in the bottom of the frame to set up Guy’s slam to give Asheville a 4-1 advantage.

The Chanticleers responded with a pair of runs in the second on a Nick Oberg single to center which drove in one run flowed by a line out double play by Reid Moman which allowed Paez to score.

Asheville added three runs in the bottom of the second, scoring on a wild pitch before a single by Hunter Bryant allowed two runs to score.

Coastal loaded the bases in the top of the fourth and plated a run on a hit by pitch. Owings then doubled with the bases still loaded to plate three runners and tie the game at 7-7. The Chanticleers added a run in the fifth to take an 8-7 lead on a Paez ground out.

Another ground out by Paez with a runner on third in the top of the ninth gave the Chanticleers a 9-7 advantage. Beckwith allowed a hit in the ninth by Lucas Owens with one out, but Coastal’s Remillard made a diving catch of a line drive by Kyle Towles and tagged first as Owens was attempting to get back to the bag.

The two teams will play game two tomorrow beginning at 2 p.m. at Greenwood.